andBeyond Nxabega Under Canvas

Set beside a seasonal floodplain in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Nxabega Under Canvas offers an intimate and exclusive safari experience with just three tents accommodating a maximum of six guests. Designed for tranquillity, privacy and deep immersion in nature, this luxury under-canvas camp invites travellers to slow down and reconnect with the gentle rhythm of the Delta. Here, solitude is not only about space, but about pace - unhurried mornings, golden afternoons and evenings lit by firelight beneath vast African skies. Seasonal mokoro excursions glide silently through reed-lined channels, while early morning birdwatching reveals fish eagles, dragonflies and water lilies in a landscape that unfolds softly, one beautiful detail at a time.

Each canvas tent features a private veranda, en-suite bathroom and hot shower, offering refined comfort that never overshadows the wilderness. Running water, fans, Wi-Fi and laundry service are provided with understated elegance, ensuring convenience while keeping the focus on the natural surroundings. With no sense of rush or spectacle, life at Nxabega Under Canvas follows the flow of the Delta itself - reflective, restorative and deeply personal. Meals are freshly prepared and shared around the fire or beside the water, becoming part of the experience as laughter, conversation and the distant calls of wildlife blend into unforgettable evenings. Nxabega Under Canvas is an Okavango Delta safari for those seeking serenity, subtle luxury and a meaningful connection to one of Africa’s most extraordinary ecosystems.

About the Okavango Delta

The largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta is the most unexpected wonder – water present in a desert. The broad Okavango River sinks into the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert, creating a lush and waterlogged oasis with crystal clear lagoons and channels, reeded islands and fertile floodplains. Dubbed “the river that never finds the sea”, this magical oasis spreads over more than 15 500 km² (almost 6 000 square miles) and yet is so fragile that, if it were denied water for even a decade, it would revert to a semi-desert.

This breath-taking environment constantly adapts and changes with the ebb and flow of the floodwaters that seasonally inundate large portions of the Delta. Although dry for two-thirds of the year, during the winter months the rising floodwaters create a maze of marshes, small wooded islands and shallow lagoons. Water lilies and other aquatic plants flourish in the shallow water, while water birds inhabit the banks of papyrus. As relatively little water can be found elsewhere during this time, the wildlife is drawn to the clear waters of the Delta.

On the edges of the Delta, where land blurs with water, breeding herds of elephant splash gently through shallow channels, the long necks of a family of giraffe materialise slowly out of the Delta skyline and graceful sitatunga antelope hide in the reeds. It is a place where you can wonder at the antics of wild dog in the morning and cast a line for tiger fish in the afternoon, wake in the dappled shade of a forest and enjoy dinner beneath the boughs of a massive baobab at full moon.

Beautiful little reed frogs cling to the water grasses and a variety of incredible bird species make their appearance, from jewelled kingfishers and bee-eaters to ponderous herons and cranes and solemn-looking owls. Red lechwe scamper through the shallows and wild cat, serval and pangolin can be spotted at night, when the moon reflects off the backs of a family of hippo coming out of the water to graze, turning them into slabs of shining silver.

Wildlife
The Okavango Delta is home to a large number of species, including some that are specially adapted to the semi-aquatic lifestyle, like the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga antelope. Lion prides, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog may be encountered, while hippo resides in deeper channels and lagoons. Honey badgers are observed during daylight hours. Roan and sable antelope favour taller grass in open woodlands and families of dwarf and banded mongoose occupy large termite mounds.

Graceful giraffe, with their impossibly long necks, and herds of zebra can be encountered on the floodplains. Lion, as well as other predators, can also be found in the area, particularly in the drier areas. Although predominantly nocturnal and difficult to spot, leopard occurs in the dense forest are the water’s edge. The sparkling channels teem with a variety of fish, while hundreds of bird species, frogs and insects inhabit the reeded banks.